SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake announced on Thursday the re-signing of defender Chris Schuler, bringing the six-year MLS veteran back to Major League Soccer after spending the start of the 2016 season in the USL with Real Monarchs SLC.

“We are excited to bring Chris back to RSL. It’s been great having him involved with the organization while with the Monarchs and we’ve kept a close eye on him throughout the year and we are satisfied that he is healthy and ready to contribute to the first team,” RSL General Manager Craig Waibel said. “A veteran presence like his is valuable on the field and in the locker room and he will be a good addition to our group.”

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Schuler signed with the Monarchs on March 18, playing nine matches with the USL side as he looked to regain full fitness after suffering a foot injury last season with RSL. In six of his starts, he played the full 90 minutes, showing to Waibel and the RSL coaching staff that he is fit and ready to contribute again at the MLS level.

“It’s been a crazy 18 months. I had a knee surgery, a foot surgery, was unemployed, signed with the Monarchs and yesterday finally earned another RSL contract,” said Schuler. “None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, friends, teammates and the entire Real Salt Lake organization.

“I’m so thankful for an environment in which I could regain my health and have the opportunity to be successful and achieve my goals; especially here in the community that I’ve grown to love. My heart goes out to the fans who played a critical role in lifting me up when things were difficult. I’m super excited to represent in the RSL jersey again and help hold down the RioT!”

Schuler, 28, played six seasons with Real Salt Lake after being selected in the third round, 39th overall, in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He played 80 matches in six years, highlighted by his career-best 25 appearances in 2014. However, a rash of injuries in 2015 limited him to just five league appearances.